Hosting a regular movie night for seniors can bring better socialization opportunities, relaxation, and even new experiences. It helps communities bond and encourages friendships to grow.
Plus, if you're one of the 44% of seniors who feel stressed out, movie watching can help alleviate your feelings of heightened anxiety.
Our community in Bellefontaine, about an hour's drive from Columbus, hosts a cinema night every week. Listed below are all the reasons why we make sure to include this fun activity and how you can benefit, too!
When you're part of a Bellefontaine assisted living community, bonding with other residents is a crucial part of finding happiness. Everyone needs a sense of close community to feel comfortable in their new home.
Participating in activities and events together is a tried-and-true way to help a community form close bonds. It gives everyone a chance to catch up and be excited about what's happening on screen.
If a resident feels as though they've not found a spot in the community yet, attending movie night can open up so many social doors.
Few things are as important to healthy aging as socialization. Without regular interaction with other people, seniors can suffer from many issues, including:
This is why cinema for older adults should have more of a focus in senior communities.
These weekly gatherings present an easy way for seniors to come together and interact, both before and after the movie. The content of the movie can help pave the way to in-depth conversations that help residents feel comfortable about approaching others later on.
Cultivating a social life in retirement can be intimidating, but watching movies together can make the process feel more natural.
Sometimes we need time to simply sit back and relax. Escapism through watching movies can help relieve the feeling of overwhelming stress. You get a chance to disconnect for a little while and watch an interesting story.
There are many times when stress gets the best of us if we allow ourselves to stew inside those anxious thoughts.
Taking a break can not only help lower those stress levels but also give you a chance to find a breakthrough to fix whatever may be stressing you. Movie watching can have similar relaxation effects as taking a small nap, but without the grogginess.
Movies are special because they help us learn something new every time we watch them. Even a cheesy sci-fi movie can have themes or character perspectives that you may never have considered before.
These new experiences can help build skills such as:
Movies also let us share our perspective or our interests with others in a more accessible way. It's important to often ask for movie suggestions so everyone gets a chance to watch something they're passionate about.
Whether you watch a mind-twisting mystery or a heartwarming love story, movie watching is a fun activity. There are thrilling highs that leave you on the edge of your seat. You'll feel relief when your favorite makes it through some treacherous situation.
You get to live the adventure alongside the characters. It's a unique way to explore the world and new ideas without leaving the comfort of your home.
It's a lot like reading a book, except often more exciting due to the evocative music and awe-inspiring visuals.
Sometimes senior entertainment needs a little push to take engagement to the next level. The good news is that there are many ways to add value to a movie night for everyone involved.
For example, you could hold discussions about the movie once it's finished. Talk about the themes of the movie, as well as likes and dislikes. Encourage people to make connections between their lives and the movie.
Another way to bring more engagement is to include interactive elements in the viewing experience.
Watching an adventure in the great outdoors? Rent a projector and watch the movie on the community lawn. Sing-alongs are also a unique way to get movie-goers to interact with the movie's content.
If you're looking to host a cinema night outside of your regular weekly events for seniors, you'll want to start by figuring out the best date and time.
It can be tricky to find a workable time that suits everyone's schedules, but keep at it. You can always schedule an additional night if someone can't attend
Pick an area with enough seating and a large screen so no one feels uncomfortable during the viewing.
Then, you'll need to decide which movies to watch and which snacks to bring. If you ever feel uncertain, don't be afraid to ask the other moviegoers for inspiration.
A run-of-the-mill chair can be comfortable for a short movie, but if you're watching something 3 hours long, make sure you make accommodations.
Bring extra memory foam cushions from your senior apartments to ease discomfort. A cushion to help with lumbar support is also a vital choice.
Planning an intermission halfway through for bathroom breaks and stretching can make the movie experience better for everyone.
Whenever you're uncertain what to watch, going with a worldwide hit is always a great idea. Some of the top-grossing films of all time include:
Finding the right location to attend a movie night doesn't need to be difficult. A trusted Bellefontaine senior community can be the answer for your movie-watching woes.
At Campbell Place Assisted Living, Saturdays are our beloved cinema nights. Every week, we host a movie extravaganza for residents to enjoy. Alongside our large list of activities, we offer key amenities to help alleviate stress so you can live life to the fullest.
Get in contact with us, and we can help you begin the transition to our charming Bellefontaine senior community!